The future of the Redwood
This being Capitol Hill, it’s probably not hugely surprising that the public design review process for a seven-story microhousing project should be fully in synch with the fate of the dive bar it is set to replace. In an announcement coinciding with the project’s first review in January, CHS reported the news that the Redwood would be closing November 16, 2017. We can now report that, with the second and likely final design review meeting for the project coming up this week, the Redwood will NOT be closing on November 16.
It’s a Thursday, turns out. One final blowout on November 18th makes a lot more sense. UPDATE: Uh oh. Change of plans. The Redwood’s final night is Halloween.
“We plan to close our doors Saturday November 18th (thinking the weekend would be a good last chance to say goodbye),” Lisa Brooke tells CHS, “then we move all our stuff out and will bring it to Port Angeles, where we hope to open a bar/restaurant.”
The Redwood’s heart and soul will live on — it’ll just be on the Olympic Peninsula. Someday, a little Redwood could possibly rise again on Capitol Hill, however.
600 E Howell
The 76-unit Blueprint Howell development planned for the Redwood’s lot is designed by S+H Works to emphasize a “narrow and articulated” form that would focus the mass of the project along Howell and the west of the property while locating the street-level commercial space on the southwest corner of the lot. To make the preferred layout work, developers are asking for a series of zoning departures on the building’s setbacks — back in January, the design board was cool with the exceptions.
https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/event/design-review-600-e-howell-2/
There will be no parking spots for cars but the building should have space for about 56 bikes.
The project’s 1,200 feet of commercial space won’t be ready for years but it could eventually be home to a reborn Redwood or another project from the Brookes.
“The planners has given us first opt to move back in after the build out and we will consider that option heavily depending on costs etc.,” Lisa Brooke said.
The Blueprint developers paid $1.3 million last year for the property home to the Redwood and a quick mart, according to county records. Their project will utilize zoning incentives for meeting environmental efficiency requirements and the planned “workforce”-priced housing to rise to seven-stories.
The next stage of the review Wednesday night will focus on the look and feel of the project including materials and lighting. “The building maintains the simple, large massing moves seen in the neighborhood,” the architects write. “Horizontal and vertical datums are reinforced through rigorous window and panel alignment.” Materials include “masonry veneer” that will provide “durability and fine-gain texture to the at-grade experience” along with “black metal paneling” at street level. “Light gray” fiber cement pane and white fiber cement infill panel will dominate the main facade.
At least it will be a nice little building. Meanwhile, Brooke said don’t weep for the Redwood. “As sad as it all is I must admit the developers and the landlord have been very fair and kind to us,” she said.
1208 E Olive St
It’s a double feature. Wednesday will also bring the possible final step in the design review process for the 73-unit mixed-use building planned to rise above 12th Ave at Olive where the Car Tender auto garage will eventually move on from. CHS first broke the news on the project in February as the project was headed for its first review. The project is being developed by real estate investor Haolin Zheng who bought the property for $7.6 million in 2016. Car Tender owners Russell Kimble and John McDermott bought the corner lot for just over $3 million in 2008. In an urbanist twist, the project planned to replace Car Tender will have but one parking spot — loading only.
Here is what the developer and architecture firm Miller Hull plant to build:
The proposed structure is a U-shaped building centered around a courtyard. The east bar is 5 stories with the ground floor partially subgrade while the western bar is 4 stories tall. The building is approximately 59,000 gross square feet and contains 3 live-work units and 73 residential units consisting of studios, 1 and 2 bedrooms above three live-work units of at approximately 1,600 GSF the northwest corner within the 1 story of street level pedestrian-oriented neighborhood commercial of approximately 4,000 GSF.
A strong turnout for public comment during the first review in February didn’t stop the project from moving forward to the recommendation phase but it did give the board and developers a push to better design the planned building’s relationship to its block and shared alley. The board praised the projects “bold” design and plans for a “fanned, stepped treatment” approach to its 12th Ave frontage.
This week, the project returns to finalize its design with the board and show off its plans for big windows, fiberglass screen features, steel mesh and concrete columns, as well as a “dark bronze aluminum storefront system” associated with the project’s generous 4,000 feet of commercial space. If there’s no room for the Redwood on the future E Howell, there will be plenty of room for it on 12th Ave.
https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/event/design-review-1208-e-olive-st-2/
